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THE chief of the Central Command (Centcom) defended the newly installed chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from accusations that he would be used by the current administration in the coming elections.
Centcom Chief Lt. General Ralph Villanueva said AFP chief of staff Delfin Bangit would defend whoever is elected president and by extension, will be loyal to both the Constitution and the chain of command.
?Anybody can take charge of its position as long as he is a competent and good soldier,? said Villanueva.
Villanueva was promoted to three star general last Wednesday.
Bangit, Villanueva and Chief Supt. Lani-O Nerez, director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) are classmates of PMA class '78.
Villanueva said he was promoted not because he is Bangit's classmate but based on the Centcom's record of its campaign against communist insurgency.
Just two weeks ago, Centcom declared provinces of Bohol and Cebu as insurgency-free. Earlier, PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said he will not back Bangit should the AFP chief attempt to install President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as holdover president.
He said the 120,000-strong police organization has enough resources to protect ?the rights of our people? and will remain loyal to the Constitution./Correspondent Chito O. Aragon
